Press bolster adjustment



Nov, 29, 1927. 1,650,818 H. C. BUFFINGTON ET AL PRESS HOLSTER ADJUSTMENT Filed Nov. 29; 192s l Patented Nov. 29, l927.

maant narran? stares PeTENTA l'offraFicE HARRY o. :Burrrneron AND Gennaio n. WEAVER, or*` srnrnerinnn, ILLINOIS,l Assrenoies To WEAVER manurnornnrne COMPANY, n CORPORATION OFVILLINOIS."

runes noteren ADJUSTMENT.

implication fuednovmber 29,1926. i serial Nol 151,489.

The present invention aims to provide improvedk and novel `means for adjustingthe holsters or work-supporting members of presses, which change of position is more or less frequently required to accommodatedlfferent classes or types of worin j In operating` presses, there is an element 'of danger inkthat the operator mayforget orneglect to inserty the bolster-'supporting pins or other sustaining means after theadpistinent-of'thefb-olster has been effected, and, when such av contingency occurs, yand the load is'imposed On the bolsterby the descent of the ram, it willgive awa 1, unless 1t has been unduly expensively constructed, with likelihood of injury to the operator or others. 1 f 1` 5.

The present inventioninahes it possible to accomplish the required adjustmentin such a manner, that,` should `the workmanl simplicity the same reference characters have been applied to `like parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

lu thisdrawing: v i Figure 1 is an elevation of the upper portion of the improved press; p O

Figure 2is an enlarged, vertical `section through the bolster adjusting means; and Figure 3 is a vertical section on line of Figure 2. l, 1- v 1i 'The press frame includes a bentlchannelbar 11 having its flanges disposed outwardly,

the bar being bent to provide apair of pare allel; uprights 12, 12 equipped at-tiheir lower ends 'with suitable supporting` feet, not .y shown, the central part of the bar formingY an inverted, V-shapedhsection 13 connecting together the two uprights, thelatterbeing joined together also at their` upper ends by a horizontal channel-bar 1d secured` to them in any approved .-manner, asby appropriate brackets 15, 15, a strut l'being interposed between i, the apex of the frame and such cross-bar. v

The vertically arranged rain 17 is equipped with suitable operating means, well-known in theart and hence requiring no yfurther description, to effect its descent andrise.` y 4 As is customary in structures of this kind, the bolster, includes a pairof side-plates 18, of which `only-"ione is shown inthe drawing, connected together as bybolts. 19, and other Vintervening means,pso that they maybe used and moved as a unit, such bolster jhavinga work rest or block 21 thereon to ac'coinmo-y dat@ certain typesfof .workt f f Each`V end ofthe bolsterfissupported Aon the vframe a pair of removable pins22`, 22 extending through registering holes inthe yflanges of the frame uprights and one occupying ahole 23 in eac-h bolster plate and the other a` substantially semi-oircular centering recess 211 in the bottom edge of each such plate.l v l l A casting 25 is boltedfat 26, 26 to one of the frame uprights and ithas ya stationary shaft 2T fixedly mounted therein as a support for ka` revoluble gear28` towhich disc means are fastened forming a'pair of deep sheaves 29 and 31 designed to accommodate a pair of ycables 32`and33f secured thereto and adapted to be wound on and unwound or paid out equally l:troni the, sheaves asthe latter turn in unison` Cable 33 entends downto and isfastened to a 4,bracket 43d on Y the Arear bolster-plate which isof such shape as ``,to reach around the .baclr flange of the corresponding frame upright; and the othercable 32 Vreaches over laky guide 35, overtheA topV of thelffranie betweenits flanges, and downto a' bracket 36 mounted on thel front bolster-plate and pro- ,jecting part` way aroundthe adjacent frame member 12,`such cable -32 beingsecuredin approved fashion to the last mentioned bracket. y i y .i 'f

' l Obviously, as the double sheave is turnedw in the one or the other direction, the cables will be wound upor taken in equal amounts to raise the bolster horizontally or paid out in similar manner to permit its descent, it

being understood, of course, that the bolstersupporting pins must be taken out irst to allow such adjustment of the bolster.

Gear 28 is in mesh with a small nut-gear 37 having a coarse, threaded hole extended through 1t, ,suchY Anut having square, quick pitch, threaded engagement with a similarlythreaded shaft 38 equipped at one end with an operating-handle 39. y

Such shaft 38 is journaled or revoluble in a sleeve 41 slightly longer than and rotatable in its bearing 42 in the casting.

A friction ratchet-wheel 43 is interposed between the nut-gear 37 and the adjacent end of sleeve 41, such element 43 fitting over 'the shaft, but not having threaded engagement therewith, so that it is capable of sli ht'lengthwise movement thereon.`

, pivoted dog or pawl 44 is in constant cooperation with the teeth of the ratchetwheel, being held yieldingly in such relation; because it is ulcrumed at 45 at one side of its center of gravity.

' Shafty 38 has two collars 46 and 47 thereion, bearing respectively against one end of coiled',eXp'ans1on spring 49 being interposed between the collarsA and tending to force them apart, the collars and cooperating springbeing housed within an appropriately-shaped part of the 'casting 25.

Assuming that the supporting pins 22 have been removed or taken out and that it is desired to raise the bolster'to a new position of adjustment, the operator turns the handle 39 in a clockwise direction and the nut 37, being held against rotation by the pull of the two cables 32 and 33 through the gear 28, the shaft 38, by reason of its lthreaded engagement with the now stationary gear-nut 37, travels inwardly, thereby vcompressing the spring 49 which causes the ratchet-member 43 to be'pressed tight-ly or squeezed firmly .between the nut-gear 37 and the end of the sleeve 41. Y

As the spring is thus compressed, the

' turning tendency of the nut 37 and its gear is increased until linally the gear 28 is revolved with the shaft, winding the two, cables on the sheavesandliting the bolster to the desired position, and during such action, the ratchet-member 43 is also rotated,

"because it` is compressed between the nutgear and the sleeve, both of which revolve with the shaft the pawl'44 riding over the ratchet-teeth during such operation.

lVhen the handle is released, the locking dog44 prevents the ratchet-element from turning backward, since' its :friction with the other parts, due to the action of thev spring, is greater than the force or power imposed onr the gear-nut, due to the load thathas'been'lifted.

Should the workman neglect to insert the slip on the face of the ratchet-member, be-

cause the force exerted on the gear-nut is now suiicient to overcome the friction caused by the spring, thus removing or eliminating any possibility of the cables or lifting mechanism being broken because of neglect or indiierence on the part of the operator.

Of course, if the bolster-supporting pins are properly inserted, the above-specified act-ion does not occur, the pins themselves taking the load.

When it is desired to lower the bolster, the pins having been removed, it is only necessary to turn the operating handle in a counter-clockwise direction rotating the screw-shaft slightly in the gear-nut thus causing the spring to release enough to permit the gear-nut to slipl on the ratchetmember. l

S0 the weight of the boiler will cause yits own descent, and it is frequently desirable to insert the lower bolster-supporting ins in the apertures of the frame correspon" ing to t-he new position of a bolsterVwhereby,

when the latter reaches them, it will be centered lengthwise and in proper location for the easy insertion of the remaining pins.

Many minor mechanical changes may be made 1n this structure without departure fromthe heart and essence of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a press, the combination of a pressframe, a ram, means to operate said ram, a bolster vertically adjustable on said frame, means to support said bolster on said frame, and means to adjust said bolster when said supporting-means are inoperative and of a power suficient to lift the bolster but yieldable to prevent breakage if a Substantial pressure is applied to the bolster by the ram.

2. In a press, the combination of a pressframe, a ram, means to operate said ram, a bolster vertically-adjustable on said frame, means to support said bolster on such frame, and friction means to adjust said bolster when said supporting means are inoperative and of a power, suicient to lift the bolster but adapted to yield tov prevent breakage if'a substantial pressure is applied to the bolster by the ram.

3. In a press, the combination of a pressframe, a ram, means to operate said ram, a. bolster adjustable on Said frame, :means to support said bolster on said frame, friction means to adjust said bolster'when said ysupporting means are inoperative, and means to means being constructed to yield in spite of said lock to prevent breakage if a substantial pressure is applied to the bolster by the ram.

l. In a press, the combination of a pressframe, a ram, means to operate said ram, a vertically-adjustable bolster, means to support said bolster in adjusted position, and means to adjust said bolster when said supporting means is inoperative including a bearing,a sleeve longer than and rotatable in said bearing, a threaded shaft in said sleeve, a gear-nut on said shaft, a ratchetinember loose on said shaft between one end of said sleeve and said gear-nut, a holding pawl cooperating with said lratchet-memlxer, an operating handley for said shaft, and a spring acting on the opposite end of said sleeve and on said shaft.` j

in a press, the combination of a pressframe, a ram, means to operate said rampa vertically-adjustable bolster, means to supportsaid bolster in adjusted position, and means to adjust said bolster When said supporting means is inoperative including cables connected to the opposite ends of said bolster, revoluble sheave means With Which.

said cables coact, a gear rigid and revoluble with said sheave means, a bearing, a sleeve longer than and rotatable in said bearing, a threaded shaftin said sleeve, a gear-nut on said shaft in mesh With said gear, a ratchetniember looseon said shaft between one end of said sleeve and said gear-nut, a holding paivl cooperating With saidratchet-member, an operating handlefor said shaft, and a spring acting on the oppositeend of said sleeve and on said shaft.

6. ln a press, the combination of a pressframe, a ram, means to operate said ram, a vertically-adjustable bolster, means vto support said bolster in adjusted position on said frame, and means to adjust said bolster When said supporting means is inoperative, including fan actuating mechanism on vone side of sai-d frame connected tothe corresponding end of the bolster and connected u' y to the kopposite end Aof the bolster by a cable extended over the top of the frame and down` the other side thereof to the bolster.

7. The` combination of a press-frame, a rani movably mounted thereon, means to operate said ram, a bolster adjustable on said frame, means to support Vsaid bolster on said frame in adjusted position comprising tivo supporting pins for each end of the bolster, one such pin ofeach pair occupying registering apertures in said frame and bolster, the lower edge of the bolster resting on the companion pin which also occupies an aperture in said frame, means to adjust the position of said bolster When saidsupporting means are rendered inoperative, and a movable handle to operate said adjusting means. j

8. The combination of a press-frame, a ram niovably mounted on said frame, means to operate said ram, a bolster adapted to support the Work and adjustable on said frame, means to support said bolster on said frame in adjusted position, means to adjust said bolster and to support the Weight thereof during such adjustment, and a movable `handle to operate said adjusting means.

9. The combination of a press-frame, a ram movably mounted on said frame, means to operate said ram, abolster adapted to support the Work and adjustable on said frame, means to adjust said bolster, a movable handle to operate said adjusting means, andmeans to support said bolster in adjusted position comprising pins supported by sai-d ,frame and occupying recesses in the under side of said bolster.

HARRY o. BUFFiNoToN. oAiLARD WEAVER. 

